Gasket making apparatus



A; woon i 2,045,744

GASKET MAKING APPARATUS A. WOOD GASKET MAKING APPARATUS MAMA@ e 3Uy E936' 5 Sheets-'Shee'fI 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1953 MAQ/M .'ml 36, v A. WOOD v GASKET MAKING APPARATUSy Filed Dec. 28, 1255 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented `lune 30, 193

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,045,744 Y GASKETMAKING APPARATUS f Albert Wood, Battle creek, Mich. Application December 28, 1933, Serial No. 704,217

5 Claims.

This invention relates Vto gasket making apparatus, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for punching and cutting gasketsfrom sheet stock. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a comparatively small compact machine in which all of the necessary operations for cutting and punching gaskets of various shapes and sizes may be easily and conveniently perf ormed in a, single be automatically fed through simultaneously cut on any Ypred at the will of the operator.

the machine and etermined outline Also, in which the feeding `and cutting operations may be quickly started or stopped by engagement or disengagement respectively of the cutters and feeding means with or from the material without interrupting the power transmission, or` in which the power transmission may be interrupted either in- Y dependently of or simultaneouslyV with the disengagement of the feeding and cutting mechanism. f Means is also provided for Varying'the rate of feed of the gasket material and simultaneously varying the cutting speed of the cutters.

The present invention also .provides a simple,

compact and eiiicient cutting and feeding mechanism in which the cutting and feeding members are so constructed and related that the cutting andfeeding operations are manner whereby the outline of synchronized in a va gasket or other pattern on suitable sheet material may be easily held in alignment withthe cutter during the cutting operation.

It is also an object to provide improved punchu ing mechanism in combination with a cutting mechanism in a single' compact machine and in cluding complete unitaryv interchangeable punch devices, each including a punch and die. and holder frame therefor, and which can changed in the power-driven portion of the apparatus.

Further objects will be apparent fromV the specbe quickly interpunch-operating ication and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of .agasket cutting and punching machine, and illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a leftend elevation o `illustrated in Fig. 1.

fthe embodiment Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the cutting portion of the device.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on a line corresponding to line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cutters in cutting relation. p

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodiment illustrated comprises a frame I in which is mounted a large part of the transmission mechl0 anism of the device. On this frame is mounted a casting 2 having outwardly extending spaced upper and lower fixed jaws 3 and II. These jaws extend outwardly and provide a deep throat therebetween for the passage of sheet material.

A horizontal cutter shaft 5 is mounted adjacent the upper arm 3 and extendsl through the rear of the casting 2 and is provided with a bearing therein. A driven friction disc 6 is securedto the rear end of this shaft 5 and is" located between the 20 spaced Vrearwardly extending portions 1 of the member 2. A transverse shaft 8 is mounted in bearings 9, these bearings being slidably mounted in the rearwardly extending arms 'I and normally retained in their outward position by means of 25 springs Il). The transverse shaftV 8 is provided with a driving friction wheel I I, which is splined thereon for movement across the face of the disc and suitable means is provided under the control of the operator whereby the shaft 8 and its slid- 30 able bearings 9l may be moved laterally toward the disc 6 to bring the friction wheel II into engagement therewith. The shaft 8 is driven from a prime mover through a suitable transmission.

In order to move the driving friction wheel II 35 across the face of the driven friction disc 6, whereby any desired speed in either direction maybe obtained for the shaft 5, a threaded rod l2 is. rotatably mounted in parallel relation with the shaft 8, and a bracket I3 is threaded thereon 40 and engages the frictiony wheel I I in such a manner that by rotating the rod the driving wheel I I Ymaybe positioned in any desired relation to the face of the driven disc 6. A hand wheel I4 is secured to the threaded shaft I2 for the adjust- 45 ment thereof.

As previously stated, the driving friction wheel II is normally out of contact with the driven disc 6, and in order to move the shaft 8 laterally to bring the wheel into driving contact with the 50 disc, a verticallever I5 is pivoted at I 6 and is forked at its upperr end and the arms of theA forked portions are connected to the slidable bearings 9 by means of studs I'I. A foot lever I8 1 is pivoted on the lower part of the frame at I9 h5y 75z1a radi-usshorter than the radius of the cutter by .l

and connected by a pin and slot connection to a bell-crank lever pivoted at 2I and in turn connected to the vertical lever I5 by means of a link 22. By means of this lever and link mechanism, when the foot pedal I8 is manually operated, the bearings 9 together with the shaft 8 will be moved rearwardly against the compression of the springs I0 and the driving wheel I I will thereby be brought into driving relation with the friction disc A pulley 23 is secured to the shaft Band is driven from a motor 24 through speedreducing pulleys 25 and 2S and belts 21 and 28 respectively mounted thereon.

The prime mover is preferably a motor pivotally mounted at 29 to maintain a suitable belt tension, and the belt 28 may be provided with a tensioning idler 28a controlled by spring 30.

The pulleys 25 and 26 are rigidly secured to a shaft 3l on which a combined pulley and clutch member 32 is loosely mounted, as particularly illustrated in'Fig. 2. Thisvloosely mounted clutch member 32 may be driven from the shaft 3| simultaneously with the driving of the cutter shaft through the previously described mechanism, when desired. Y

A driving clutch member 33 is splined on the shaft 3l and may be moved into driving engagement with the combined pulley and clutch member 3,2 by means of a foot pedal 34, which is pivjoted at and connected to the clutch member 3 3 by link 36, bell-crank 31, and lever 38, in a manner to move the clutch member 33 into driving relation with the clutch member 32 when the foot pedal 34 is depressed.

A punch holding frame 34a is mounted at the rear of the frame I and substantially under the friction disc 5. Interchangeable punch mechanisms 35a may be mounted in this punch-holding frame and each comprising a suitable support 36a 4o. in which a punch 31a is mounted for cooperation with a suitable die 38a also mounted therein. The punch is provided with a head 39 and is normally held in its raised position by means of a spring 43.

and are interchangeable` in the support 34 and are secured therein by means of a bolt34b.

A lever 4I is pivoted at 42 in the support 34 and is provided witha cam surface engaging the :head 39' of the punch, whereby a downward movement of the lever 4I will operate the punch. rlJhis lever 4I may be controlled by means of the foot pedal 34 which, as previously stated, may be operated to cause the engagement of the clutch .members 32 and 33. When theV clutch members are engaged aV pulley 43 will be driven therefrom through a belt 44. Thepulley 43 is secured to a shaft .45 on the opposite end of which is securedV a cam 46, which is in operative engagement with As previously stated, the cutter shaft 5 may beY rotated .at any desired speed and in either direce tion through the friction drive mechanism. This shaft extends forwardly and` has a rotary disc cutter 52 secured thereon. A feed wheel 53 is secured 'adjacent Vthe cutter and preferably has These punch and die units may beV ,-provided with punches and dies of different sizes substantially the thickness of the thickest material to be cut. A second rotary cutter 54 is mounted below the cutter 52 and in shearing relation therewith and in parallel relation. A second friction feed wheel 55 of substantially the same diameter as the friction cutter 54 is mounted adjacent thereto.

The cutter 54 and the friction wheel 55 may be made integral, if desired, as shown in Fig. 5, and is pivoted at 56 in a vertically slidable meml ber 51, which latter is mounted in the lower arm 4 of the member 2 and normally maintained in Vraised position by means of springs 58 whereby the two cutters are in shearing relation. The slidable member 51 is provided with a downwardly extending portion 59 on which is pivoted a handle 6I) having a cam portion 6I bearing against thelower surface of the arm 4. When this handle and cam portion are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the cutter 54 and adjacent feed wheel 55 will be normally held in raised or 'cutting and feeding position by the springs, and when the handle. 60 is turned to thev position shownby dotted lines in Fig. 4, the cam portion 6I operates to-force the cutters and their support downwardly againstv the resistance of the' springs and out of cutting and feeding relation.

In order to introduce the sheet stock between the cutters and feed Wheels, it is only necessary' to move the handle SI1-into the position shown in 3 Fig. 4. The handle may then be raised and the cutters Will be forced` together by means of the springs 58 and the feed wheels 53 and 55 will'. engage on opposite sides of Ythesheet stock. The, feed wheel 53 being in intimate frictional en-f gagement with the upper surface of the stock and driven by the shaft 5 through the mechanismy previously described, will then, through the pressure of the sheet stock,` drive the lower feed wheel and its associated cutter. The feed wheels may 4 beknurled or otherwise provided. with friction surfaces. Y

The feeding wheel 53 and associated cutter are preferably either integral or assembled as a rigid unit. V'Ihis construction combined with the pref- 4 erably integral or rigidly assembled construction of the feed Wheel` 55 and cutter 54 provides adevice in which the feeding is synchronous with the cutting and,..as the driving of the feed is accom-V plished solelyv by the upper feed wheel 53, the 5 outline of the gasket or other pattern to be cut is more easily held in alignment with the cutter during the cutting operation.

The cutter 54 preferably comprises an eXtension. of ther feedy wheel 55 and is provided with an 5 the material indicated byv the reference char- 6 acterA.

The present device is adapted to cut gaskets of any desired shape, and, for the purpose of cutting. circularl gaskets, a rod '62 is mounted below the shaft. 5rfand' parallel therewith, and an 6 adjustable centeringr pin 53 is slidably mountedA thereon and may be moved to any desired position and rigidly secured' by means of a thumb screw 64. By thisv means, it is only necessary to adjust the centering pin to 1a desired radius, 7 punch a hole in the sheet stock, place the stock between the cutters andv over theY center pin V63 and rotate the stock onthev pin. The cutters will then cut the stock to the diameter of a circle to which the center point s3 has been adjusted.' 75

Modifications may be made in the embodiment herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore desire to be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame, a prime mover, a punch-actuating transmission mounted on said frame, a unitary punch mechanism for punching sheet material readily removable and replaceable with respect to said punch-actuating transmission and comprising a base, a reciprocable punch mounted in Isaid base, and a die carried by said base and cooperating with said punch, manually operable means for connecting and disconnecting said punch actuating transmission with respect to said punch mechw anism, said punch mechanism and frame being provided with cooperating positioning means to insure the correct positioning of said unitary punch mechanism with respect to said punchactuating transmission, a power driven mechanism for feeding and cutting said sheet material, transmission for operating said feeding and cutting mechanism', and manually operable means for connecting and disconnecting said transmission with respect to said feeding and connecting mechanism.

2. An apparatus for `cutting sheet material comprising a frame having a pair of elongated jaws unconnected with each other at one end forming a deep throat open at one end to receive the sheet material, a pair ofV rotatable circular cutters mounted at the open end of said frame and cooperating to cut said sheet material passed therebetween, a shaft mounted on and extending longitudinally of said frame, one of .said cutters being driven from said shaft, a sheetfeeding roller driven from' said shaft, having a relatively narrow feeding face whereby the sheet material may be handled to effect a curvilinear cut, a motor, driving means from said motor to said shaft, and meansincluding a pedal for connecting and disconnecting said driving means with respect to said shaft whereby a single operator can tend the machine, using both hands to handle the sheet material and using the foot for starting and stopping the cutting and feed of the sheet, said driving means comprising a friction disc mounted on said shaft, and a friction wheel for driving said friction disc, said connecting and disconnecting m-eans comprising means for moving said friction wheel into and out ofV engagement with respect to said disc.

3. Apparatus for cutting gaskets from relatively large sheets comprising a frame having a deep horizontal throat open at one end to enable the insertion of the main body of the sheetinto the throat, a horizontal cutter shaft extending longitudinally of the horizontal throat, a circular cutter mounted on said shaft adjacent the open end of the throat, driving means from said shaft adjacent the other end of the throat, a feed wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said cutter, a second feed wheel opposite :said rst wheel and driven from said rst feed wheel through the inner position of said sheet, a second circular cutter rotatable with said second feed wheel and cooperating with said first cutter, and manually operable means for shifting said second feed wheel and second cutter from a position in which the cutters are in overlapping shearing relation Yto a position in which the feed wheels and cutters 4are separated from each other to enable the insertion of the main body of the sheet between the cutters and feed wheels into the throat of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus for cutting gaskets from relativelylarge sheets comprising a frame having a deep horizontal throat open at one end to enable the insertion of the main body of the sheet into the throat, a horizontal cutter shaft extending longitudinally of the horizontal throat, a circular cutter mounted on said shaft adjacent the open endv of the throat, driving means from said shaft adjacent the other end of the throat, a feed wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent said cutter, a second feed wheel opposite said first Wheel and driven from said rst feed wheel through the inner position of said sheet, a second circular cutter rotatable with said second feed wheel and cooperating with said first cutter, and manually operable means for shifting said second feed wheel and -second cutter from a position in which the cutters are in overlapping shearing relation to a position in which the feed wheels and cutters are separated from each other to enable the insertion of the main body of the sheet between the cutters and feed wheels into the throat of the apparatus, said feed wheels being nearer to the closed end of the throat than are the cutters, whereby the feed wheels will act on the main body of the sheet material.

5. Apparatus for cutting gaskets from relatively large sheets comprising a frame having a deep horizontal throat open at one end to enable the insertion of the main body of the sheet into the throat, a pair of cooperating circular cutters mounted adjacent the open end of the throat, a longitudinal horizontal guide extending longitudinally of the horizontal throat, and a gasket centering pivot slidably adjustable on said guide to enable circular gaskets of various diameters to be formed by said cutters.

ALBERT WOOD. 

